How the Crow Nation Received its Name

Crow Nation, or Crow Tribe as they call themselves, arrived at their English name humorously.

The white settlers who met the Crow mistook the indigenous nation's translation of their own name, Children of the Large-Beaked Bird , to mean children of the crow. The name stuck.

(Reference: Children of the Large Beaked Bird: History and Culture of the Crow Nation. Jerry Bauck. 1993).

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"The Custer Fight" by Charles Marion Russell. 1903. | Source

The Crow lands are considered the Teepee Capital of the World. | Source

Native War and Peace

The piece of Crow history that the public most knows is the Battle of the Little Bighorn or Battle of the Greasy Grass, in which Crow Nation fought with the US Cavalry and Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer against other Native nations - notably the Lakota Sioux and allies, because this was the Great Sioux War of 1876.

The Little Bighorn was a largely one-sided massacre of the US 7th Calvary and Custer Battlion (outnumbered by estimates from 3 to 1 up to 9 to 1) and their allies, but the event is commemorated by a national parks installation at Little Bighorn National Monument and Custer National Cemetery (see links below). George Custer's grave, along with those of many of his men, can be visited in the Montana prairie.

Apsáalooke Nation is the Crow Tribe at Crow Agency, Montana and their motto is Peace Though Unity, a motto that raises some eyebrows in the light of the historic massacre. However, the children of the big-beaked bird have a beautiful origin. The US was born in war and has lived very few years without internal or external warring.

Crow Nation members, 1880s. | Source

Triune History of the Crow

The people of the Apsáalooke recognize and teach three periods of cultural development since the year 0 AD.

Crow Tribe settled in Montana centuries ago. The people say that they were first the Awaakiiwilaxpaake or People of the Earth, at peace with all humans and wildlife in the time when the birds and animals could still speak. The Crow next developed through time into a second phase, Biiluke on Our Side, and finally, the Awashe, People of Earthen Lodges.

As Biiluke, the people were told by their Creator that He would not make many of them. As the more developed Awashe, some of the people went in quest across the North American Plains to seek the Sacred Tobacco Plant. Gathering from what became Canada and the American western plains, they settled in the Little Bighorn Mountains of Mountana near a spot that legend tells us that their sacred plant was found. Here, they became Apsáalooke Nation of the Crow. It is a lovely, peaceful history.

Sweat Lodge, Crow Agency | Source

Recent Crow History Since the Civil War

Many North American Natives maintain oral histories that discuss several thousand years of culture and belief. The Crow Tribe does not speak on its website of multiple thousands of years, but only of 2,000 years history.

The US Federal Government signed a treaty with this Indigenous Group to recognize them officially as a tribe or nation in 1825. An 1851 treaty established the Crow Reservation in Montana and a final treaty of 1868 established additional rights and responsibilities after the American Civil War. Unfortunately, archaeological discoveries in Autumn 2011 found that a March 1880 federal document forced the Crow onto a smaller reservation in order for whites to settle a greater percentage of Montana's lands (Source: www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/us/11tribe.html).

The Crow had previously allied themselves with US Cavalry leader George Custer against the Sioux and Northern Cheyenne in 1876 in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, just 100 miles east of the reservation lands that were lost. The Crow were seemingly penalized with land confiscation instead of rewarded for their loyalty.

The Crow Agency reservation today lies on 2.2 million acres and includes the Big Horn Mountains, given to the Crow by a legendary Seven Big Horn Sheep with golden horns and hooves. The Big and Little Bighorn Rivers run through the reserve, while two additional mountain ranges and several national park installations fill it with an incredible landscape.

Battle of the Little Bighorn Reenactment: Home18th Annual Battle of the Little Bighorn Reenactment, fought on the River next to National Battlefield! Custer's Last Stand has been the name identified with this Battle until the Park was renamed. See Indian Braves and 7th U.S. Cavalry troopers cros

Changes Under the Obama Administration

President Barack Obama was adopted into the Crow Tribe in the late 2000s.

The Great Recession of 2008 - 2010 affected the reservation as it affected much of the rest of the US. Fewer jobs were listed from Autumn 2009 - Autumn 2011 and health declined in some respects during the recession and its aftermath.

However, a big improvement was achieved in water irrigation rights with a $74,000,000 federal award for ten years' development in the Crow Irrigation Project and its new jobs creation 2011 - 2021. Jobs doubled from September 2011 to September 201

One health aspect in decline among the Crow is nutrition and obesity. In fact, eating disorders have been a little discussed problem, especially among Native woman. As the population increases and health news and notices of healthare advances spread more quickly in a technological age, problems and conditions some into a brighter light.

Recent reports reveal that Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a particular problem and that Native women are at higher risk for BED than white women (reference: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/10/turning-a-blind-eye-to-eating-disorders). However, resources to help within the Indian Health Service are inadequate for these types of conditions. National eating disorder associations are being consulted for help.

Significant Population Growth On and Off the Reservation

Corw Nation populations are increasing, but at a somewhat lower rate than other Native American groups on average. | Source

Comments

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AUTHOR

Patty Inglish MS

6 years agofrom USA. Member of Asgardia, the first space nation, since October 2016

Amen, rosered6682! If you're Cherokee, then you are distantly related to Elvis Presley. So am I, so you and I must be, something like 50th cousins. Happy Day!

It was a long time before I learned that part of my family in the UK moved to Ireland and did not want anyone in America to know that when that branch came over around the time of the Potato Famines. Sadly, there is prejudice against the rich suburb of Dublin at the edge of my city. When will it ever end?

Glad to meet you!

Frances Tolson

6 years agofrom Webster (Croom-a-coochee), Florida

I am always looking for any literature about indian culture. Though my external looks reign Irish, my blood is indian. Genetically I am 1/16 my great grandmother was full blooded Cherokee. I believe we are truly one nation under God (Great Spirit). Amen!

kevins blog52

6 years agofrom southern Indiana

Thank you Patty for the read it was very interesting, voted up.

Hello, hello,

7 years agofrom London, UK

Thank you Patty, for such a feast of information. As you must have gathered by now, I love reading all about these great people. I think the world would have been a better place if we would have learned and listened more to their wisdom.

AUTHOR

Patty Inglish MS

7 years agofrom USA. Member of Asgardia, the first space nation, since October 2016

Earth Angel - From looking at war records and diaries, it seems that the Crow were very good scouts and many served a such. I like the imagery of the People of the Earth and animals speaking - just as in our Christmas Eve legend. Thanks for visiting and bringing your peace and grace here.

AUTHOR

Patty Inglish MS

7 years agofrom USA. Member of Asgardia, the first space nation, since October 2016

Allen and Frannie - Thanks for reading and commenting onthisone. I think the Crow are intresting people, especially since they trace their line back only to the time of the birth of Christ. The 7 Golden Rams of their ancestry sounds biblical in a way, but I don't think it is; but spiritual like the power animals of the Kwakiutl and Haida and others.

AUTHOR

Patty Inglish MS

7 years agofrom USA. Member of Asgardia, the first space nation, since October 2016

WD Curry 111 - Very interesting, and we have a DNA test for about 200 USD that will prove ancestries anyway. Cheap and accurate (weel, cheap to the original prices of $400+ a few years ago)

AUTHOR

Patty Inglish MS

7 years agofrom USA. Member of Asgardia, the first space nation, since October 2016

Hi Ben - Some of the triebs have their own geneological pages that might have the name of your ancestor on them. I'd start looking there. Yo might find that some other relative has done a famly tree on something like Ancestor.com without your knowledge as well.

My family could never find the paperwork on our Native heritage, but it was clear in not only appearance, but memories shared by our older generations before they passed. I'm certain only of Mohawk connections to the traditional group that is not recognized by either federal or state govt. The recognized group has a casino and federal benefits.

Earth Angel

7 years ago

Beautiful tribute to peace among peoples and nations! Thank you Patty for continuing to share a more accurate version of history as it relates to our First Nation brothers and sisters! Blessings of Peace Always, Earth Angel!

Frannie Dee

7 years agofrom Chicago Northwest Suburb

Beautiful hub, timeless like the People of the Earth.

Up beautiful and interesting.

Allen Williams

7 years agofrom Pennsylvania

Interesting information and a good hub. I voted up!

Ben Zoltak

7 years agofrom Lake Mills, Jefferson County, Wisconsin USA

Well done and thank you Patty, how did I miss this story? I wish that I could be adopted by a tribe, as my family lost our tribal affiliation a long time ago, more than that I guess I wish I knew which tribe my adopted ancestor came from, he may not have known himself. Thank you for the Crow and Lakota Sioux history, Barack appears to be a good spirited addition. I hope he can convince Americans to recognize more of the sovereignty of the tribes.

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